Copper-Nanocoated Ultra-Small Cells in Grain Boundaries Inside an Extinct Vent Chimney.

Chemosynthetic organisms flourish around deep-sea hydrothermal vents where energy-rich fluids are emitted from metal sulfide chimneys. However, microbial life hosted in mineral assemblages in extinct chimneys lacking fluid venting remains largely unknown. The interior of extinct chimneys remains anoxic where the percolation of oxygenated seawater is limited within tightly packed metal sulfide grains. Given the scarcity of photosynthetic organics in deep seawater, anaerobic microbes might inhabit the grain boundaries energetically depending on substrates derived from rock-water interactions. In this study, we reported ultra-small cells directly visualized in grain boundaries of CuFeS2 inside an extinct metal sulfide chimney from the southern Mariana Trough. Nanoscale solid analyses reveal that ultra-small cells are coated with Cu2O nanocrystals in grain boundaries enriched with C, N, and P. In situ spectroscopic and spectrometric characterizations demonstrate the distribution of organics with amide groups and a large molecular organic compound in the grain boundaries. We inferred that the ultra-small cells are anaerobes because of the fast dissolution of Cu2O nanocrystals in oxygenated solution. This Cu2O property also excludes the possibility of microbial contamination from ambient seawater during sampling. It is shown by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis that the chimney interior is dominated by Pacearchaeota known to have anaerobic metabolisms and ultra-small cells. Our results support the potential existence of photosynthesis-independent microbial ecosystems in grain boundaries in submarine metal sulfides deposits on the early Earth.

Serum immunoglobulin G Fc region N-glycosylation profiling by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry can distinguish breast cancer patients from cancer-free controls.

Herein, we report that breast cancer (BC) patients can be distinguished from cancer-free (NC) controls by serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) crystallizable fragment (Fc) region N-glycosylation profiling using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Recently, there has been much progress in the field of tumor immunology. However, to date, the role and biomarker potential of IgG Fc region N-glycosylation, which affects the function of antibodies, have not been examined in BC. In the present study, we profiled serum IgG Fc region N-glycans in BC patients (N = 90) and NC controls (N = 54) using MALDI-MS. An IgG Fc region N-glycan-based multiple logistic regression model was produced which could distinguish BC patients from NC controls (area under the receiver operative characteristic curve = 0.874). Furthermore, stage 0 patients could also be distinguished using this model. These results suggest that an unknown humoral factor or soluble mediator affects IgGs from the earliest stage of breast cancer, and also suggests that IgG Fc region N-glycosylation may play a role in tumor biology. Although further investigation is required, our findings are the evidence that IgG N-glycan profiling has the potential to be used as a breast cancer biomarker and may provide the insights into tumor immunology.

A novel hairless mouse model for malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND: An appropriate animal model for malignant melanoma could be a strong tool to develop biomarkers through analysis of melanomagenesis. OBJECTIVE: Development of a novel animal model that spontaneously develops malignant melanoma with a high percentage. METHODS: We crossed oncogenic RET (RFP-RET)-carrying transgenic mice of line 304/B6 (RET-mice) with hairless mice (hr/hr) and newly established hairless RFP-RET-transgenic mice of line 304-hr/hr (HL-RET-mice). RESULTS: The HL-RET-mice developed hyperpigmented skin and benign melanocytic tumors without exception. More importantly, 63.8% (46/72) of the benign tumors were transformed to malignant melanoma in the HL-RET-mice. Mean time until the development of benign melanocytic tumors (2.4 months; n = 102) in the HL-RET-mice was about half of that in the original RET-mice (4.6 months; n = 20). Mean life span in the HL-RET-mice (9.7 months; n = 38) was also significantly (p < 0.01) shorter than that in the original RET-mice (10.8 months; n = 20). Since early development of tumors could contribute to shortening of the research period, HL-RET-mice could be a useful model for analysis of melanomagenesis. We then found that the expression level of Mps one binder kinase activator-like-2B (Mobkl2b) in benign tumors was higher than that in malignant melanoma in HL-RET-mice. Expression level of MOBKL2B in malignant melanoma cell lines was also lower than that in non-malignant melanocytic cells in mice and humans, suggesting that MOBKL2B could be a novel marker for malignant melanoma. CONCLUSION: We established a novel hairless RET-transgenic mouse line spontaneously developing cutaneous malignant melanomas from benign melanocytic tumors. This mouse model may be useful to find new candidates of melanoma-related molecule.

Telling children and adolescents about their cancer diagnosis: Cross-cultural comparisons between pediatric oncologists in the US and Japan.

PURPOSE: Over the last 50 years, direct communication about cancer with adults has shifted from an approach of not telling to one of telling. Less is known about communication practices with children. The purpose of this study is to (1) describe patterns of communication at diagnosis between pediatric oncologists and children with cancer and (2) compare cultural differences in these practices in the US and Japan. METHODS: This 2003 survey, developed in English and translated into Japanese was mailed to members of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and the two Japanese Societies of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology; there were 350 US and 362 Japanese respondents. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS: US physicians had a consistent pattern of telling children (65% always told the child; less than 1% rarely or never told). Japanese physicians had greater variability in their patterns of telling (with only 9.5% always telling, 34.5% rarely or never telling). Direct communication with the child was influenced by personal attitudes, patient factors, and work culture in both countries. Many more variables emerged as influencing Japanese physicians' communication practices than for US physicians. US physicians were influenced by their own sense of responsibility for telling, while Japanese physicians were more influenced by personal attitudes, patient factors, and work culture. CONCLUSIONS: US and Japanese physicians differed when communicating directly with the child about his or her cancer. The impact of these practices on children and their parents should be explored and the parent and child's perspectives elicited. This information will help facilitate culturally sensitive patient and family centered communication.